Flood control unit



Feb. 13, 1962 1. OURY 3,020,922

FLOOD CONTROL UNIT Filed Dec. 9, 1957 /2 F1 s 25 ,2 "Mb. I I I A r' W 32 n II BIA 1,

./Z ZVEZ7ZQZ I LE v/ 00B) United States Patent Qflflce 3,020,922Patented Feb. 13, 1962 3,020,922 FLOOD CONTROL UNIT Levi I. Oury,Wheaton, Ill. Filed Dec. 9, 1957, Ser. No. 701,383 4 Claims. (Cl.137-115) This invention relates generally to a flood control unit, andmore specifically to an automatic unit for preventing basements andother low levels from being flooded by reason of a backing up of thedrainage system.

Heretofore known devices of this general type have typically includedscreens which, with extended usage, clog and therefore requireservicing. Further, heretofore known units have either extended asubstantial distance below the floor level, or have extended asubstantial distance above the floor level. In every known instance whenthe sewer is disposed close to the floor, it has been necessary for thesewer to be relocated or for the control device to extend upwardly ofthe floor surface. Still further, sediment and the like has frequentlycollected along the bottom of various portions of such devices,particularly at points where the sewage velocity is decreased because ofan expansion of the sectional flow area of the unit.

In accordance with the principles of the instant invention, a new andnovel arrangement of the elements has been provided wherein a unit maybe connected to sewer conduits which are disposed immediately adjacentthe lower surface of a floor without any portion of the device extendingabove the floor surface or extending for any excessive distance belowthe surface. Further, in lieu of a screen, a damming arrangement hasbeen provided to collect insoluble material before it reaches the pumpinlet, doing so only when the street sewer is attempting to flow in areverse direction. Also, by a novel arrangement of parts, a unit hasbee-n provided wherein any collection of sediment or insoluble materialsis washed away by the normal flow of sewage through the device, therebyeliminating or at least minimizing the amount of service required by theunit.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a floodcontrol unit of a new and improved structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved floodcontrol unit which does not employ screens or strainers, but wherein anyvalving and pump parts are protected against clogging by solidmaterials.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a floodcontrol device wherein the inlet and outlet are disposed immediatelybelow a floor without any part of the device projecting upwardly fromthe floor.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a selfcleaning flood control unit.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a methodfor controlling both normal direction sewer flow and reverse directionsewer flow simultaneously.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the presentinvention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon makingreference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheet ofdrawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating theprinciples of the present invention is shown by way of illustrativeexample.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a flood control device provided inaccordance with the principles of the present invention and with its topcover removed;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view, partially in elevation, taken along lineIIII of FIGURE 1 and showing the device typically installed;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line IIIIII of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line IVIV of FIGURE3.

As shown on the drawings:

The principles of this invention are particularly useful when embodiedin a flood control device such as illustrated in FIGURE 1, generallyindicated by the numeral 10. Generally speaking, the device includes ahousing 11 having side and bottom walls and which is provided withdividers defining a group of internal compartments including an uppercompartment 12 communicating with an inlet 13 to the housing 11 andanother upper compartment 14 communicating with an outlet 15 of thehousing 11, a normally closed check valve 16 disposed intermediate theupper compartments 12 and 14, a lower compartment 17, and a pump 18disposed in the lower compartment 17.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the device 10 is typically installed in a well 20disposed in a concrete floor 21 through which a sewer conduit passes,such as from a house to a street sewer. Thus a floor drain 22 may joinwith or represent the sewage drainage system of a house and communicateswith the inlet 13, and a sewer tile 23 may joint with the outlet 15 andcommunicates with the street sewer.

In the instant embodiment, the housing 11 is made in a rectangular formor shape and each of the inlet 13 and the outlet 15 are disposedimmediately adjacent to the upper periphery or flange 25 extending aboutthe top of the housing 11. The housing 11 is also provided with aicover26 which is of one or more pieces and which is preferably removable. Thecover 26 closes and seals each of the compartments 12, 14, and 17. Inthe instant embodiment, a single cover of a flat configuration may beused to lie in a single plane to close each of the above identifiedcompartments.

One end of the upper compartment 12 communicates with the inlet 13 forreceiving sewage therefrom. Another end of the compartment 12 is closedby the check valve 16 through which the sewage is normally discharged.

One of the side walls 28 of the upper compartment 12 is provided with anelongated opening 29, thus defining a weir or dam having an upper edge30 extending horizontally in vertically spaced relation from the bottom31 of the compartment 12. Thus the compartment 12 may be termed a troughsince the upper edge 30 is a free edge.

The check valve 16 which closes or dams up the discharge end of thecompartment 12 is gravity actuated or biased to a normally closedposition as shown in FIG- URE 2. The valve is carefully balanced so thata slight water pressure on the side of the movable part adjacent to thecompartment 12 will cause the valve to open easily. The structuraldetails of the valve are known and do not comprise a part of thisinvention.

The second upper compartment 14 communicates the discharge side of thecheck valve 16 with the outlet 15. The compartment 14 has a bottom 32which is disposed at a level lower than the bottom 31 of the compartment12. The bottom 32 is also provided a substantial vertical clearance withrespect to the check valve 16.

The lower compartment 17 has a bottom 33 which is disposed lower thanthe upper edge 30 of the weir or dam 28 of the compartment 12.

The details of the pump 18 are well known in the art and do not form apart of the instant invention. The pump 18 has an inlet which isdisposed within the chamber 17 and preferably includes an integral motorwithin the pump. The pump 18 is preferably disposed wholly within thechamber or compartment 17 as shown. The particular pump illustrated hasa cap 18a which serves as a float to actuate an electric switch wherebyto control the operation of the pump 18. The pump 18 is provided with adischarge line 40 which communicates with a region downstream of thecheck valve 16. This region is the zone which is subject to the pressureof reverse flowing sewage. In the instant embodiment, the discharge line40 communicates with the compartment 14. When a back pressure is appliedthrough the line 40 to the pump 18, certain pumps, when stationary, willnot allow a reverse flow therethrough. However, many pumps do allow areverse flow, leakage, or seepage therethrough. To minimize the amountof running which such pumps do, a second check valve 41 may be providedin the line 40, the check valve 41 permitting free flow from the pump 18to the chamber 14, and blocking flow in an opposite direction. Tofacilitate installation and removal, a conventional union coupling 42may be provided in the line 40. It is to be understood that the line 40is shown more or less diagrammatically in these views, Also, theprovisions for waterproof wiring leading to the pump have been omittedsince the details do not form a part of the instant invention. It isalso to be understood that the exact mode of attachment of the cover 26to the housing 11 is diagrammatic and may be altered as may beconvenient.

Sewage normally flows from the sewer 22 in the house through the inlet13, into the chamber 12 where both the check valve 16 and the weir 28slightly dam up the, flow. When a slight fluid head is developedtherein, the carefully balanced check valve 16 opens and allows sewageto pass into the compartment 14, and thus out through the outlet 15 andthe sewer tile 23.

It will be observed that under this condition, no sewage will overflowthe weir 28 and the pump 18 will not be called upon to operate. Shouldthe pump be heard to operate at times not under storm or other sewagebackfiowing conditions, the householder is warned that the check valve16 may be in need of cleaning.

However, the lower disposition of the bottom 32 with a substantialclearance from the discharge end of the check valve 16 assures thatthere is ample space for a relatively large amount of sediment tocollect before it can interfere with the operation of the check valve16, such collection of sediment or solids being thereafter ordinarilywashed away by any substantial flow of sewage through the check valve,such as may occur when draining tubs or flushing toilets.

In the event that sewage flows reversely from the street sewer throughthe outlet 15 and into the compartment 14, the closed position of thecheck valve 16 will prevent further ingress of such reversely flowingsewage. As the height of sewage builds up in the compartment 14, aproportionately larger head of sewage is needed in the compartment 12 toopen the check valve 16. Thus when the height of sewage in thecompartment 14 approaches or is in the vicinity of the height of thefree edge 30 of the weir or dam 23, the head of fluid in the compartment12 can no longer open the check valve 16 and will, upon reaching thefree edge 39 of the weir 28, overflow the weir 28, such flow passinginto the lower compartment 17. The lower compartment 17 collects suchfluid until such time as the float switch in the pump 18 is actuated,whereby the pump 18 draws such fluid through an inlet around its legsand forces it through the discharge line 40 into the compartment 14, thedischarge pressure of the pump 18 being greater than that in thecompartment 14 so that the sewage from the house 22 is transferred intothe street system even though the check valve 16 be closed.

The dam or weir 28 causes a reduction in the velocity of incoming sewagewhereby any solid or insoluble particles are collected behind the damand only liquid is allowed to flow over it and to reach the pump 18.Thus the use of screens has been avoided to keep such material away fromthe pump 18. When the Water pressure in the upper compartment 14 hasreceded, the solid particles collected behind the weir 28 are thereafterwashed through the check valve 16 for flow through the out let '15.

By novel arrangement of the elements of this invention, it is apparentthat the inlet and the outlet may be provided immediately adjacent thelower surface of the floor Without projecting upwardly through thefloor. By disposing the pump adjacent to the compartments, a minimumdepth of well 20 is required.

It is apparent that many other forms of this invention may beconstructed wherein the principles of this invention are employed. Thusthe instant invention includes the novel operation wherein normal sewageflow is dammed up a predetermined height by the weir 28 and the checkvalve 16. Thereafter the sewage from the house is allowed to overflowthe weir 28- and to pass to the sump 17'. Thereafter the sewage inthesump is pumped into a region which is subject to the reverse sewerpressure whenever the check valve 16 is closed.

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versedin the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within thescope of the patent warranted hereon all such embodiments as reasonablyand properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A flood control unit comprising in combination: a housing havingbottom and side walls and an inlet and an outlet disposed immediatelyadjacent to the upper periphery thereof for connection in a sewerconduit; a pair of upper compartments in said housing and incommunication with each other and with the inlet and outletrespectively; acheck valve operatively intermediate said uppercompartments and arranged to be securely closed by sewage entering oneof said upper compartments from the outlet and to permit sewage flowfrom the inlet to said one upper compartment when no sewage is enteringsaid one upper compartment from the outlet; the other of said uppercompartments having an elongated horizontal opening in a side wallthereof defining a weir having an upper edge vertically spaced from thebottom of said other upper compartment; a lower sewage compartment insaid housing and having a bottom disposed lower than said upper edge andcommunicating therewith for receiving any overflow sewage therefrom; amotorized pump wholly disposed in said lower sewage compartment andconnected to transfer any overflow sewage from said lower compartment ofsaid one upper compartment and closure means on said housing, lying in aplane, and comprising the top of said housing immediately adjacent tosaid inlet and said outlet; the various elements of said unit beinglocated in said housing below the plane of' said closure means.

2. A flood control unit comprising in combination: a housing havingbottom and side walls and an inlet and an outlet disposed immediatelyadjacent to the upper periphery thereof for connection in a sewerconduit; a pair of upper, compartments in said housing in communicationwith each other and with the inlet and outlet respectively; a checkvalve operatively intermediate said upper compartments and arranged tobe securely closed by sew age entering one of said upper compartmentsfrom the outlet and to permit sewage flow from the inlet to said oneupper compartment when no sewage is entering said one upper compartmentfrom the outlet; the other of said upper compartments having anelongated horizontal opening in a side wall thereof defining a weirhaving an upper edge vertically spaced from the bottom of said otherupper compartment; a lower compartment having a bottom disposed lowerthan said upper edge and communicating therewith for receiving anyoverflow sewage therefrom; said housing having removable means lying ina common plane sealably defining the top of each of said compartments;and a pump connected to transfer any overflow sewage from said lowercompartment to said one upper compartment.

3. A flood control unit comprising in combination: a housing havingbottom and side walls and an inlet and an outlet disposed adjacent tothe upper periphery thereof for connection in a sewer conduit; a pair ofupper compartments partially defined by said housing and being incommunication with each other and with the inlet and outletrespectively; a first check valve operatively intermediate said uppercompartments and arranged to be securely closed by sewage entering oneof said upper compartments from the outlet and to permit sewage flowfrom the inlet to said one upper compartment when no sewage is enteringsaid one upper compartment from the outlet; the bottom of said one uppercompartment being lower than the bottom of the other of said uppercompartments and having at all times a substantial vertical clearancewith respect to all the movable parts of said check valve; the other ofsaid upper compartments having an elongated horizontal opening in a sidewall thereof defining a weir having an upper edge vertically spaced fromthe bottom of said other upper compartment; a lower sewage compartmentdefined by said housing and having a bottom disposed lower than saidupper edge and communicating therewith for receiving any overflow sewagetherefrom; said housing having removable closure means lying in a commonplane sealably defining the top of each of said compartments; amotorized pump, wholly disposed in said lower sewage compartment, havinga discharge line communicating with said one upper compartment fortransferring any sewage which overflows said weir to said one uppercompartment; and a second check valve in said discharge line to preventreverse flow of sewage there through, the various elements of said unitbeing located in said housing below the plane of said closure means.

4. A flood control unit comprising in combination: a

housing having bottom and side walls and an inlet and an outlet disposedimmediately adjacent to the upper periphery thereof for connection in asewer conduit; a pair of said compartments being in communication witheach other and with the inlet and outlet respectively; a check valveoperatively intermediate said upper compartments and arranged to besecurely closed by sewage entering one of said upper compartments fromthe outlet and to permit sewage flow from the inlet to said one uppercompartment when no sewage is entering said one upper compartment fromthe outlet; the other of said upper compartments having an elongatedhorizontal opening in a side wall thereof defining a weir having anupper edge vertically spaced from the bottom of said other uppercompartment; a lower sewage compartment defined Hy said housing andhaving a bottom disposed lower than said upper edge and communicatingtherewith for receiving any overflow sewage therefrom; said housinghaving a removable fiat cover sealably closing the tops of each of saidcompartments; and a pump connected to transfer any overflow sewage fromsaid lower compartment to said one upper compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,233,391 Mullane July 17, 1917 2,421,066 Howe May 27, 1947 2,431,640Gordon Nov. 25, 1947 2,549,204 Kaddatz Apr. 17, 1951 2,739,662 SofiaMar. 27, 1956 2,844,163 Steinberg July 22, 1958 2,868,380 Del VecchioJan. 13, 1959

